"They are very practical beasts, Doctor Volospion." Abu Thaleb spoke defensively, as if he, too, suspected irony.

People would often respond in this way to Doctor Volospion's remarks which were almost always, on the surface at least, bland enough.

"Oh, indeed!" Doctor Volospion eyed a passing calf which had paused and was tentatively extending its trunk to accept a piece of fruit from the commissar's open palm. "Servants of man since the beginning of time."

"Worshipped as gods in many eras and climes…" added Abu Thaleb.

"Gods! True. Ganesh…"

Abu Thaleb had lost his reservations:

"I have re-created examples of every known species! The English, the Bulgarian, the Chinese, and of course the Indian…"

"You have a favourite?" Volospion heaved at a sleeve and scratched an eyebrow.

"My favourites are the Swiss Alpine elephants. There is one now. Notice its oddly shaped hooves. These were the famous white elephants of Sitting Bull, used in the liberation of Chicago in the 50th century."

Miss Ming felt bound to interrupt. "Are you absolutely certain of that, commissar? The story sounds a bit familiar, but isn't quite right. I am an historian, after all, if not a very good one. You're not thinking of Carthage…?" She became confused, apparently afraid that she had offended him again. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have butted in. You know what a silly little ignoramus I am…"

"I am absolutely certain, my dear," said Abu Thaleb kindly. "I had most of the information from an old tape which Jherek Carnelian found for me in one of the rotting cities. The translation might not have been perfect, but…"

"Ah, so Carthage could have sounded like Chicago, particularly after it has been through a number of transcriptions. You see Sitting Bull could have been —"

Doctor Volospion broke in on her speculations. "What romantic times those must have been! Your own stories, Miss Ming, are redolent with the atmosphere of our glorious and vanished past!" He looked at Abu Thaleb as he spoke. Abu Thaleb moved uncomfortably.

Mavis Ming laughed. "Well, it wasn't all fun, you know." She sighed with pleasure, addressing Abu Thaleb. "The thing I like about Doctor Volospion is the way he always lets me talk. He's always interested…"

Abu Thaleb avoided both their eyes.

"Say what you like about him," she continued, "Doctor Volospion's a gentleman!" She became serious. "No, in a lot of ways the past was hell, though I must say there were satisfactions I never realized I'd miss till now. Sex, for instance."

"You mean sexual pleasure?" The Commissar of Bengal drew a banana from his quilted cuff and began to peel it.

Miss Ming appeared to be taken aback by this gesture. Her voice was distant. "I certainly do mean that."

"Oh, surely…" murmured Doctor Volospion.

Miss Ming found her old voice. "Nobody around here ever seems to be interested. I mean, really interested. If that's what's meant by an ancient race, give me what you call the Dawn Ages — my time — any day of the week! Well, not that you have days or weeks, but you know what I mean. Real sex!"

She seemed to realize that she was in danger of becoming intense and she tried to lighten the effect of her speech by breaking into what, in the Dawn Age, might have been a musical laugh.

When her laughter had died away, Doctor Volospion touched his right index finger to his left eyelid. "Can this be true, Miss Ming?"

"Oh, you're a sweetie, Doctor Volospion. You make a girl feel really foolish sometimes. It's not your fault. You've got what we used to call an 'unfortunate tone' — it seems to make a mockery of everything. I know what it is. You don't have to tell me. You're really quite shy, like me. I've lived with you long enough to know…"

"I am honoured, as always, by your interpretation of my character. But I am genuinely curious. I can think of so many who concern themselves with little else but sexual gratification. My Lady Charlotina, O'Kala Incarnadine, Gaf the Horse in Tears and, of course, Mistress Christia, the Everlasting Concubine." He cast an eye over the surrounding guests. "Jherek Carnelian crucifies himself in pursuit of his sexual object…"

"It's not what I meant," she explained. "You see, they only play at it. They're not really motivated by it. It's hard to explain." She became coy. "Anyway, I don't think any of those are my types, actually."

The Commissar of Bengal finished feeding his banana to a passing pachyderm. "I seem to recall that you were quite struck by My Lady Charlotina at one time, Miss Ming," he said.

"Oh, that was —"

Doctor Volospion studied something beyond her left shoulder. "And then there was that other lady. The time traveller, who I rather took to, myself. Why, we were almost rivals for a while. You were in love, you said, Miss Ming."

"Oh, now you're being cruel! I'd rather you didn't mention…"

"Of course." Now he looked beyond her right shoulder. "A tragedy."

"It's not that I — I mean, I don't like to think. I was badly let down by Dafnish — and by Snuffles, in particular. How was I to know that … Well, if you hadn't consoled me then, I don't know what I'd have done. But I wish you wouldn't bring it up. Not here, at least. Oh, people can be so baffling sometimes. I'm not perfect, I know, but I do my best to be tactful, you know. To look on the bright side. To help others. Betty used to say that I ought to think more of my own interests. She said I wasn't selfish enough. Oh, dear — people must think me a terrible fool. When they think of me at all!" She sniffed. "I'm sorry…"

She craned to look back, following Doctor Volospion's gaze.

Li Pao was nearby, bowing briefly to Doctor Volospion, making as if to pass on, for he was apparently in some haste, but Doctor Volospion smilingly called him over.

"I was complimenting our host on his collection," he explained to Li Pao.

Abu Thaleb made a modest gesture.

Miss Ming bit her lip.

Li Pao cleared his throat.

"Aren't they fine?" said Doctor Volospion.

"It is pleasant to see the beasts working," Li Pao said pointedly, "if only for the delight of these drones."

Doctor Volospion's smile broadened. "Ah, Li Pao, as usual you refuse amusement! Still, that's your recreation, I suppose, or you would not attend so many of our parties."

Li Pao bridled. "I come, Doctor Volospion, on principle. Occasionally there is one who will listen to me for a few moments. My conscience drives me here. One day perhaps I will begin to convince you of the value of moral struggle."

An affectionate trunk nuzzled his oriental ear. He moved his head.

Doctor Volospion was placatory. "But I am convinced, Li Pao, my dear friend. Its value to the 27th century is immeasurable. But here we are at the End of Time and we have quite different needs. Our future is uncertain, to say the least. The cosmos contracts and perishes and soon we must perish with it. Will industry put a stop to the dissolution of the universe? I think not."

Miss Ming patted at a blonde curl.

"Then you fear the end?" Li Pao said with some satisfaction.

Doctor Volospion affected a yawn. "Fear? What is that?"

Li Pao's chuckle was grim. "Oh, it's rare enough here, but I think you reveal at least a touch of it, Doctor Volospion."

"Fear!" Doctor Volospion's nostrils developed a contemptuous flare. "You suggest that I —? But this is such a baseless observation. An accusation, even!"

"I do not accuse, Doctor Volospion. I do not denigrate. Fear, where real danger threatens, is surely a sane enough response? A healthy one? Is it insane to ignore the knife which strikes for the heart?"

"Knife? Heart?" Abu Thaleb lured the persistent elephant towards him, holding a bunch of grapes. "Do forgive me, Li Pao…"

Doctor Volospion said softly: "I think, Li Pao, that you will have to consider me insane."